Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been caught inflating its savings, with an $8 billion claim actually stemming from an $8 million contract. The error, first spotted by The New York Times, accounted for 15% of DOGE’s total $55 billion in reported savings.
Questionable accounting practices
Further scrutiny has revealed inconsistencies in DOGE’s figures, with its so-called “wall of receipts” listing only a fraction of the claimed $55 billion savings. Many canceled contracts, including those already partially paid, were counted in full toward savings, despite funds already being spent.
ICE contract at center of error
The most glaring mistake involved a contract for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), originally reported as an $8 billion termination but actually valued at just $8 million. The contract, set to be distributed over six years, had already paid out $2.5 million before cancellation.
Savings still inflated
Despite correcting the contract’s value, DOGE has yet to adjust its total savings figure, still listed as $55 billion. The agency has not publicly explained how the miscalculation occurred or why it continues to claim credit for previously spent funds.
Claiming credit for Biden-era cuts
Further questions have been raised about DOGE’s credibility after it included savings from two National Archives office closures—announced in August 2024, before DOGE existed. These closures, totaling $780,308 in “savings,” were originally planned under President Biden’s administration.
Public confidence shaken
As doubts mount over DOGE’s financial transparency, critics argue the agency’s rushed cost-cutting measures may be more about political optics than actual savings. Musk and his team have yet to respond to the growing controversy surrounding the department’s accounting practices.
